Trillium was contracted by the Taft School to design a passive, energy efficient home that would be at the highest standards for green homes in the United States.

"...We have a 'phase two' coming up, and instead of dreading it I look forward to the project because I get to keep working with Elizabeth and her Trillium team..."- Stamford, Organic Waterfront Renovation

"...I was showing Elizabeth my ideas, and she knew exactly what I was talking about and she saw my vision..." - Sharon T, Litchfield off-the-grid home

Trillium Architects is here to help you create the peaceful, light-filled, clean and healthy house that will serve as home base for your organic lifestyle.

Enter a Trillium house and breathe easy. Let the kids and dog lie on the floor. Spend your weekends doing anything but home maintenance. Enjoy the light filled open spaces. Brag about the fact that your utility bills average about $30 per month all year long.

We are committed to designing the most energy-efficient and environmentally responsible homes possible

100% of our new homes are Net Zero or Zero Energy Ready. We use Passive House standards as the baseline for insulation and air-tightness. We vow to only use healthful, low-embodied-energy building materials and finishes. We never stop learning and striving to make our homes the best they can be.

We believe in healthy, efficient homes.

We have done our homework on the effects our lives have on the environment and the effects our environment has on us. The homes we live in have great capacity to impact our health as well as the environment. Our homes need to provide us with a safe comfortable living experience, but also they need to not contaminate us with toxins or allergens. We design houses using all natural, no-voc, non-toxic materials, and we assemble them in ways that will not cause mold, mildew, or other detrimmental effects to indoor air quality.

We believe in getting back to nature.

The connection that we have with the land our house sits on can enhance our experience of our immediate environment and of nature at large. Deeper connection to nature and our immediate environment can lead to a deeper understanding of our impact upon the world around us, as well as a deeper knowledge of our house and how it works as shelter. The more that our house is in harmony with its environment, and the more we actively participate in the operation of our house as shelter, the longer the house will last.

Having the right team with the right attitudes makes all the difference

We are an 'Intentional Company'. We do honest work for an honest fee. One client calls it 'Fair Trade Architecture'. At Trillium Architects, caring, high-quality, well-researched, and thoughtful work is our base starting point. On top of that, we bring experience, technical excellence, and creative thinking to all that we do. We work in a team format with our clients and contractors. We do not participate in adversarial or dishonest business practices. We believe that what you give to the world, the world gives back to you. We believe that part of building healthy, efficient, and sustainable homes is maintaining a healthy, efficient, and sustainable business atmosphere. We hope that our level of caring and thoughtfulness is apparent in all that we do.

The following resources will help you get your bearings before designing and building (or remodeling) a home:

Design, Drawings, & Administration

3 Phases of Working with an Architect

Creating a home is a collaborative process. We want you to be familiar and comfortable with every step in the process, from the initial meeting—where we start to discover your needs and wants—to drafting of construction documents to overseeing the construction of your new home.

Architects' Fees

A Breakdown of the Costs of Designing a Home

We have a straightforward system with clearly specified fees for every service we provide. We bill for design on an hourly basis, while the bulk of the services we provide—surveying, drafting, engineering, and construction administration—are charged as a percentage of the project budget.

Pre-Design Questionnaire

Clarify your needs, wants, and goals

It's good to start with questions, not answers, when trying to figure out what should and shouldn't be included in your new home. This comprehensive list of questions will help you put your needs and wants in perspective, and help us get you started on the home-design journey.

Construction Costs

3 ways to estimate how much you will spend

We can offer a free ballpark figure based on the size and type of your project, provide a detailed estimate for a fee, or request an estimate from a reputable builder. Our construction-costs page has some numbers based on past projects plus a detailed description of the 3 options.

What people are saying about Trillium Architects"...We have a 'phase two' of our house project coming up, and instead of dreading it I actually look forward to the project because I get to keep working with Elizabeth and her Trillium team..."

- Organic Waterfront Renovation - Stamford, CT

We only build high performance homes and have worked with Trillium Architects on multiple projects with great success. Trillium provides the green focus essential for a thoughtful/creative design helping clients focus on the important details. One our more recent Trillium projects was a Passive House, currently pre-certified, with certification pending.

— BPC Green Builders - Wilton, CT

Trillium has a strong commitment to delivering a sophisticated and intelligent design. Their commitment to using sustainable materials is commendable. Yet at the same time, they are careful that it is never about them and their priorities. Trillium always kept our dreams and priorities at the top of the list!

Serving Fairfield, Westchester, and Beyond

With our office in the center of downtown Ridgefield, CT, most of the homes Trillium Architects has designed are in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven Counties in Connecticut, and Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties in New York's Hudson Valley, but we have clients in California, Rhode Island, and many places in between.

Trillium Architects is a 7 person, full service, boutique architectural firm specializing in Passive House, Net-Zero and off-the-grid new homes, additions, and renovations. Based in Ridgefield, CT, we primarily work in western Connecticut and New York's Hudson Valley, but we've designed homes all over the country.

In 2015 and 2016 we won awards for Best Energy Efficient Home in the USA from both the USGBC and the DOE, we won a 3rd Place International Innovation award which we accepted at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Morocco 2016, and we won Best Emerging Firm in CT from the AIA in 2016.

With the end goal of marrying beauty, usability, and the cutting edge of efficient design, we strive to always make the client experience of building or renovating their home top notch.

Featured

This project of ours has 8” of insulation (R-40) over the slab on grade. That’s 4 times the requirement in NY! A massive amount of heat can be lost through the slab so it’s just as important to insulate as the walls (Which will also get 6-8” of the same insulation) . Plus, the insulation helps prevent condensation. ~Alex ~Observations from a Jr. Architect

In progress: large format porcelain tile application in this new master bathroom as part of a very minimalist approach to design. The shower area shown here is directly across a tall and wide window looking out to a private and beautifully landscaped backyard. We let nature’s intricacies complement the simplicity of this interior finish. #porcelaintile #minimalistdesign #modernbath

Spring rain helps the summer flowers! However, yesterday’s storm might have washed all the flowers away…While you’re repairing your garden, think of bolstering your number of indoor plants. Plants help absorb off-gassing and trace amounts of VOCs (volatile organic compound) that are sometimes found in construction materials. They also help people breathe better. Nowadays, many conscientious architects and builders are aware of this and can optimize Indoor Air Quality, but for chemically sensitive people and those who can’t build from scratch, the solution could be as simple as a few new palm plants. ~Alex

Planning a new home or addition? Consider insulating concrete forms wherever you plan to add living space. ICFs can improve the comfort of your below-grade spaces and provide savings on a job by combining concrete formwork and insulation into a single step.

Spring is finally here! With all the winter snow and recent rain we don't think much about drought in the Northeast. Here are some interesting thoughts about why we should.https://buff.ly/2KPwrhm

Garage and master suite addition to a shed roof mid century modern.

Here in N.E, Winter has abruptly ended and Spring is here! Many people have been looking to expand their houses with small additions and bump-outs. But don’t forget about that space above the garage! It’s easy to dismiss that square footage as storage but some of my favorite spaces are cozy areas above the garage. They’re perfect for apartments, in-law suites, kid play areas, or a place to escape. ~Alex ~Observations from a Jr. Architect

Spring is finally here! With all the winter snow and recent rain we don't think much about drought in the Northeast. Here are some interesting thoughts about why we should. RT @TheHourNews: Despite 2016 water scare, Connecticut lagging in conservation https://buff.ly/2KbpuWG

Tonight is the night! Elizabeth DiSalvo will be speaking in a panel discussion tonight at 5:30 at Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, CT. Don’t Be Passive, BUILD PASSIVE: Case Studies & Lessons Learned. Stop by and say hi! #PassiveHouse⠀
https://buff.ly/2jIoz4E